color + pattern

Did you know that house plants can lower your stress levels? They can also help you be healthier and heal faster. Other green benefits, as mentioned in this HGTV article, include: make our air fresher by removing pollutants, bump up our creativity and concentration, add oxygen and there’s evidence that plant owners are more caring and empathetic. Domain magazine mentions, “Plants help to increase our levels of positivity and make us feel more secure and relaxed. They can also help with loneliness and depression. Caring for a living thing gives us a purpose and is rewarding…”

Yes, please, to all of the above! I like to amp up the happy factor that plants bring into our home with either a classic terracotta pot for texture and simplicity, or, more often, a colorful vintage planter. Succulents really pop against a cheery yellow McCoy planter! Over the last year, when I’m on the vintage hunt, I’m often drawn to planters…particularly, quirky animals or retro heads. Double the fun and dose of positivity in my opinion!

Posy has a whole stash of creative, colorful or classic planters now in the shop!

In case you need a little guidance when planting succulents, which seems to be the trend that just won’t quit, I found this article by Southern Living Magazine to be helpful. My local nursery walked me through the basics and my succulents have been rocking it! I started with a layer of charcoal and then filled the container with soil meant specifically for succulents (took away the need to mix in sand) and then I only water when the soil’s dry.

Now for the fun part! Pick out your plant and a fun planter and you’re on the way to healthier and happier days!

Here are some planter options in Posy’s shop…ranging from quirky ducks to classic McCoys:

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One of my favorite things to collect, both for Posy and for myself, is vintage art. My wonderful customers agree, as I’ve sold every piece I’ve ever acquired for Posy! A goal this year has been to amass a collection of my favorite finds, rather than just a painting here or there, or one thermos or globe, instead of a whole heapful. It makes for a better display and, of course, gives a Posy customer more options. I’ve gotten really lucky with some fantastic buying trips, particiularly to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Springfield Ohio, and have got a beautiful selection of art in stock!

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I’ve been thinking a lot about vintage and what obstacles there might be for someone “new to the game” that could keep them from including vintage in their home. I’m hoping through these journal posts and the pics posted on Posy’s Instagram account, I can show you the accessibility of vintage decor. Common questions I get from Posy customers include “does it smell” and “is it soft?” Posy’s mission is to sell vintage goods that are truly useful and/or add some personalized history to your home…minus the mildew, stale scents & sticky goo. My goal is for you to take your Posy treasure home from a market or have it delivered to your door, ready to go!

The whole point of buying vintage from a dealer, in my opinion, is that they’ve done the tough work…the finding, inspecting, cleaning, repairing, etc. and all you have to do is decide where to put it in your space! I like a good patina, and I want my vintage to look like vintage, but I also don’t want to have to get a tetanus shot. And I don’t want you to walk away from an amazing find because it’s so dirty you don’t even want to touch it. What’s the point of that?!

Tools of my trade include the wonderful Goo Gone, steel wool, leather wipes, Method’s almond wood polish, a toothbrush, tons and tons of rags, a mouse sander, vinegar, baking soda, microfiber cloths and the Clorox bleach pen. I love seeing a good transformation and could gaze at before-and-after’s all day! Luckily, the pieces I’ve been finding lately, have only required a little elbow grease. If there’s a vintage piece you already own and don’t know how to care for it or clean it up, let me know and hopefully I can help or point you in the right direction! I recently discovered, thanks to Instagram, that you can use ketchup to remove tarnish from brass. Amazing!

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Vintage linens are one of my favorite items to collect and something, in my opinion, that’s a sure fire way to bring instant vintage charm to your home. The quality and detail of the needlework always strikes me and the quirky patterns and images are just plain fun. I love embroidered pillow cases best and have worn many a pair down, because I believe in actually using them and not keeping them hidden away for special occasions. I’ve found that a more gentle wash keeps them lasting longer. Clorox’s bleach pen has been a saving grace, particularly with stains on tablecloths, as you can be precise with your treatment and it doesn’t affect the surrounding areas and colors. I like to show the beautiful wood on my kitchen table, so runners are a sweet way to add a little texture without covering up the whole thing. And you can think outside the box with vintage linens…I turned a large embroidered piece into a wall hanging with the help of a couple of wooden dowels and bakers twine. Vintage linens also make a wonderfully thoughtful and personal gift for a new bride, Mother’s Day present, hostess or friend. Personally, I’ve been collecting for many, many years and have gotten quite the stash built up. In an effort to focus on the pieces I really use and clear out some space in our small home, I’m finally cracking open the vault and sharing my collection with Posy customers! New pieces are being added to the shop weekly.

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A felt ball garland is such a fun and bright way to add a splash of color and festivity to your holiday decor…or to any space year round! In case you’re interested in making one on your own, here’s a quick tutorial to show you how: ‘

First, get a strong needle with a bigger eye for lacing yarn or even baker’s twine, your felt balls (my garland uses 50 balls) and a length of yarn (I use just over 10 feet of yarn to get a 9 foot garland) and poke through the center of your felt ball.

Move the ball to toward the end of your yarn, leaving a tail to hang the garland from (I prefer about 6″ of tail at each end).

Now, we want to knot the yarn so that the ball doesn’t move and once the garland is complete, so they won’t all become a tangled mess. Put your needle through a smidge of the ball right in front of where your previous yarn exited (the opposite side of the end tail).

This will create a loop, which I like to hold with my thumb.

You’ll then put the needle through the loop completing the knot.

Give yourself some space, I usually do about 1 3/4″-2″ before adding the next ball. Continue adding balls until you’ve reached your desired length. Be sure to leave another tail, the same length as the first, for hanging.

My favorite part of the process is picking colors! Whether you go the random rainbow route, or stick with a sublime pattern, it’s a fun and creative craft that I hope you’ll enjoy!

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hello there!

Laura, Posy's shop owner, geeks out at multi-day yard sales, auctions, estate sales and thrift shops, scooping up quality, personable vintage pieces for Posy. She loves meeting folks, hearing the stories behind the goods, and finding each piece a new home to continue their story. Posy can best be described as "vintage comfort."

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